Joint Commission proposes new palliative care standards

The Joint Commission wants feedback from palliative care
providers on newly proposed standards. The standards, proposed this week, would
be part of a new Healthcare Services Certification Program that aims to provide
standards and improvement solutions to health care organizations.

The main focus of the Healthcare Services Certification
Program is to "emphasize the importance of patient-centered care" and
to "integrate the involvement of patients, families and healthcare staff
in treating individual needs and improving care," according to Chuck
Mowll, Joint Commission executive vice president for business development,
government and external relations.

The deadline for feedback from palliative care providers
is April 8. The full Healthcare Services Certification Program is expected to
launch some time in August. The program will be available for geri-psychiatric
care, sub-acute care wound care and physical rehabilitation programs.

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